RIDGWAY — The vision of the Elk County Community Foundation is to connect people who care with causes that matter. The Harold and Midge Lenze Tuition Assistance Fund; the Tom and Mary Rita Valentine Fund; and the Edna Geitner Bennett Memorial Scholarship Fund are all a testament to that vision. These ECCF permanent funds that designated monies to support Catholic education in the Elk County area were established by the donors in their estate plans. In addition, the Elk County Catholic School System (ECCSS) created an agency endowment fund with the foundation years ago which provides them with an annual unrestricted disbursement. This year’s combined award for all of these individual funds was $77,896.

Each family chose a specific way to support the ECCSS. The Lenze fund supports tuition assistance; the Valentine fund supports tuition assistance and general operational needs; the Bennett fund provides a college scholarship and funds for school operation.

The Elk County Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization that manages over 186 endowed funds. For more information, call ECCF at 814- 834-2125 or visit their website at www.elkcountyfoundation.org.